Laptops with Nvidia GeForce MX250 / MX230 graphics (complete list)

This article explains what to expect from laptops with Nvidia MX250 and MX230 graphics chips, how these GPUs compare to the popular MX150, and provides a full list of portable devices bundled with these chips.

The Nvidia GeForce MX250 replaces the MX150 as of the first half of 2019 and is still a standalone graphics chip based on the Nvidia Pascal architecture, while the GeForce MX230 replaces the entry-level MX130 chip and is based on a very similar chip, the Pascal architecture , unlike the previous MX130 which was based on Maxwell and was pretty much a rebadged 940MX.

Update: 2020 laptops now get an option for an MX350 dGPU, a more powerful direct successor to the MX250. Follow this link for more details.

Both are entry-level dedicated GPUs designed as more powerful alternatives to the Intel UHD graphics built into the Intel Core U processors.

As solutions for thin-and-light notebooks and ultrabooks, they are designed for efficiency and have low power consumption, making them suitable for compact designs. At the same time, they're also more affordable than the higher tier Nvidia GPUs, so you'll find them in a handful of affordable full-size laptops too.

Exact details on the two are still scarce, but we do know that both are based on Nvidia's GP108 14nm chip, so they can be summarized as slightly higher clocked versions of the GeForce MX150 GPU. That means you shouldn't expect the MX250 to run significantly faster than the MX150, while the MX230 should be somewhere in between, but with a slightly higher TDP and a more affordable price tag.

We'll update with benchmark results and performance expectations as soon as we can test the MX250/230 laptops, but for now we'll leave you with the spec sheets and then jump to the list of actual products built with these chips.

Update: We've covered GeForce MX250 1D13 GPU performance in this separate article.

	Nvidia GF MX250	Nvidia GF MX230	Nvidia GF MX150
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal	Pascal
code name	N17S-G2 (GP108 1D13)	N17S-G0 (GP108 1D11)	N17S-G1 (GP108 1D0/1D12)
piping	384	384	384
speed	1518-1852MHz	1518-1531MHz	1468 – 1532
reminder	up to 4GB GDDR5	up to 4GB GDDR5	up to 4GB GDDR5
memory speed	7000MHz	7000MHz	6000MHz
TDP	10-25W	15-30W	10-25W

Based on these specs, I expect the MX250 and 230 to perform similarly to their predecessors, with the main differences between the generations being slight increases in clock and memory speeds, and added support for Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL 4.6, and OpenCL 1.2.

Additionally, just like with the MX150s, Nvidia will offer different versions of these two chips: a lower power option for Ultrabooks with a TDP of 10-15W, and higher-performance alternatives for full-size devices with TDPs of around 25-30W .

In terms of gaming, you can expect to be able to run less demanding titles and older games at FHD resolution and medium/low details, while AAA titles will pretty much have to switch to HD resolution to get 30+ fps .

Below we have compiled a list of laptops based on Nvidia MX250 and Mx130 laptops. Very few such devices have been announced at this point, but we'll keep updating the charts and populating them with the new launches as they come out.

Update: Many of the 2020 laptops in this segment will now get an option for an MX350 dGPU, a more powerful direct successor to the MX250. Follow this link for more details.

model	format	screen	CPU	graphic card	battery	Weight	starting price
Acer Aspire 5 A515-54G	conch shell	15.6″ FHD matte	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250 25W (?)	48Wh	~4 pounds / 1.8 kg	–
Acer Swift 3 SF314-56G	conch shell	14″ FHD matte	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250 25W (?)	48Wh	~3 pounds / 1.4 kg	–
Asus VivoBook S14 S432	conch shell	14″ FHD matte	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX230	42Wh	~3.1 pounds / 1.4 kg	$799
Asus VivoBook S15 S532	conch shell	15.6″ FHD matte	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	42Wh	~3.7 pounds / 1.7 kg	$849
Dell Inspiron 15 7000	conch shell	15.6″ FHD matte	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	42Wh	~4.1 pounds / 1.86 kg	$799
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1	convertible	15.6″ FHD touch	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	42Wh	~4.35 pounds / 1.97 kg	$1199
Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1	convertible	17.3″ FHD touch	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	56Wh	~6.1 pounds / 2.75 kg	$1099
HP envy 15m	conch shell	15.6″ FHD touch, OLED option	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	52Wh	~4.8 pounds / 2.1 kg	$899
HP envy 17m	conch shell	17.3″ FHD touch, OLED option	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	52Wh	~6.4 pounds / 2.9 kg	$899
HP Pavilion x360 14	convertible	14″ FHD touch	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	41Wh	~3.5 pounds / 1.55 kg	–
HP Pavilion x360 15	convertible	15.6″ FHD touch	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	41Wh	~4.4 pounds / 2 kg	–
Huawei MateBook 14	conch shell	14″ QHD glossy	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250 25W	57.4Wh	~3.3 pounds / 1.5 kg	$1199
Huawei MateBook X Pro	conch shell	13.9″ Touch	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	57.4Wh	~3 pounds / 1.4 kg	$1599
Lenovo IdeaPad S340 14	conch shell	14″ FHD matte 250 nits	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	48Wh	~3.5 pounds / 1.7 kg	–
Lenovo IdeaPad S340 15	conch shell	15″ FHD matte 250 nits	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	48Wh	~4 pounds / 1.8 kg	–
Lenovo IdeaPad S530 14	conch shell	14″ FHD glossy 300 nits	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	48Wh	~3.5 pounds / 1.7 kg	–
Lenovo IdeaPad S530 15	conch shell	15″ FHD glossy 300 nits	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	48Wh	~4 pounds / 1.8 kg	–
Lenovo ThinkPad T490	conch shell	14″ different options	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	50Wh	~3.45 pounds / 1.55 kg	$1149
Lenovo ThinkPad T490s	conch shell	14″ different options	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	57Wh	~3 pounds / 1.3 kg	$1449
Lenovo ThinkPad T590	conch shell	15.6″ various options	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	57Wh	~1.75kg	$1199
MSI PS42	conch shell	14″ FHD matte 280 nits	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250 25W (?)	50Wh	~2.6 pounds / 1.2 kg	–
Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 13.3	conch shell	13.3″ FHD matte	Whiskey LakeCore U	MX250	39Wh	~2.9 pounds / 1.3 kg	–

Here is a brief glossary of the above terms:

• Types:
  • conch shell: traditional computer, the screen of which closes over the keyboard and does not switch to any tablet mode;
  • Convertible: 2-in-1 laptop whose screen rotates or converts to tablet mode (or similar) but cannot be detached from the base;
• Resolutions: HD (1366x768 pixels), WXGA+ (1440x900 pixels), HD+ (1600x900 pixels), FHD (1920x1080 pixels), WUXGA (1920x1200 pixels) FHD+ (2160x1440 pixels), retina (2304 x 1440 pixels), QHD (2560x1440 pixels), WQXGA(2560x1600 pixels), QHD+ (3200x1800 pixels), UHD (3840 x 2160 px) – see also this post.

That's it for now, but as I mentioned in the beginning, this article is a work in progress and I'll be adding new products as they are released. So bookmark for updates if you are interested in the topic.

That being said, if these Nvidia GeForce MX250 and MX230 laptops don't offer the performance you want, you should also check our lists of more powerful laptops with Nvidia GTX 1050/1050Ti, GTX 1060 graphics, or the newer RTX 2060 options.

By: Laptops with Nvidia GeForce MX250 / MX230 graphics (complete list)